Shopping for Gooseneck Hitches

[Briar Hopper]

Found out that the travel trailer I'm getting has a gooseneck hitch on it... I've looked at www.turnoverball.com and it looks great, I think I want it, but would like to know what else is out there? The RV catalogs only show a semi-ugly one made by Reese, I don't want THAT one ! Any websites or phone numbers you could post on here would be much appreciated !

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Tom
GLTDR B. A. D. Boys
www.lubedealers.com/meers.html

 

[K_Arts]

Check out this Thread... hopefully it will help you out

Gooseneck Hitches


Personally I prefer to convert the Goosneck hitch to a Kingpin and tow it as a fifth wheel. You have far less torque on the bed/frame of the truck. Instead of having all of the trailer weight on the gooseneck ball, the weight is distributed across the fifth wheel hitch and I have noticed that the truck seems to pull better IMO.

Just my $. 02

Kev

[This message has been edited by K_Arts (edited 12-27-2000). ]

 

[Eventer]

Briar,

I went with a Pop-Up Hitch (popuphitch.com) because it stays flat in the bed and I don't have to get into the bed to raise or lower the ball. A hole is cut in the driver side fender. You pull/push a lever to lower/raise the ball. The max tongue weight is 7500 pounds and max trailer weight is 30000 pounds.

The only problem I can see after having used it for 6 months is that the plastic cover over the ball stops staying in place. I just make sure that I clean and regrease the ball every time I tow.

The cost was competitive with other hitches.

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Lyndon Hendry

2001 2500 QC LB ETH/DEE 3. 55RE Patriot Blue
Pop-Up Hitch, Stock engine except for MIA blow-by-bottle

 

[RAPID RICK]

Briar Hopper,
As far as I'm Concerned the Turn Over Ball is the gooseneck hitch on the
market. I install about 150 of them a year.
Rick

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99 3500 4x4 QC,5spd,3. 55 posi,turn over ball goose neck hitch,Putnam class V reciever hitch,Alcoa alum. wheels,275 hp inj. home built boost module,4 in. straight exhaust(built it in my shop)Pac brake,4 leaf overload springs,all options execpt leather & keyless entry,2000 Artic Fox 10 ft. camper,with slide out 2horse tongue pull trlr. ,24 ft flat bed that I haul my 6200# modified alcohol burning Ford 4x4
pull truck on.

 

[BFaoro]

My Dad has the turnover ball. He thinks that it is the best. #ad
the only thing is when he hauls hay in the bed to feed the cattle the bottom of the ball gets filled full of hay and makes it a pain to remove. I made my own, but I wish I had known about the turnover ball I would have bought it instead. #ad
Oh well maybe I can get some of the turnover parts and make my own #ad
if I can find where they just sell the pieces #ad


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96 2500 4X4, SC,SLT, 12 valve,lost kitty 5SP 3. 54. line-x liner All stock (for now)

 

[Old Account - 243]

I don't haul anything but plan on adding a gooseneck hitch when funds allow. I would like the option of renting a gooseneck utility trailer when I need to haul trees or help friends or family move.

I've looked at and like features of each of these hitches.

http://www.unagoose.com/

#ad


http://www.reesehitch.com/

#ad


http://www.turnoverball.com/

#ad


http://www.popuphitch.com/

#ad


I like the safety chain plate on both the Unagoose and the Reese over the u-bolts of the other hitches. The Reese however, sits about a 1/2" above the truck bed. I think the Turnover ball is a great idea but the Popuphitch has improved on it; plus, I can get the hitch locally for about 265. 00.

243

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99 QC 2500 ST 4X4 SB 24V/5speed 3. 54/LSD Driftwood/Agate
Walker 21468, VDO, Bridgestone 285/75/16 MT's, RS9000's, Hella 500's

-- email address removed --

 

[BCFAST]

Briar, my previous truck had a turn-over, my current Ram has a pop-up. Parts-is-parts, but as someone above stated about load ratings, make sure you buy the HIGHEST shear weight available! If you were to have "a problem" on the highway, you would have a REAL bad day if the goose ball was the weakest link in the chain!

 

[M1A2]

Check out "DrawTite's -- Remov-Ball" I love mine. Once installed it leaves only a 1/2" thick plate in the bed. I had my spray in bedliner put in until it was flush with the top. It also comes with a 6" square magnet (refrigerator type) that covers the hole when you remove the gooseneck ball. Excellent product that I would buy again!

 

[Briar Hopper]

Thanks guys, guess I got my homework cut out for me, researching all this! 243, love the pictures, nice touch to this thread, thanks.
I got a good friend that's recommending the B & W turnover system, and I trust his judgement so I'm taking a good look-see at that one...
I like the fifth wheel hitch you can buy to go with the turnover ball hitch, that's totally slick, leaves no rails in the bed. But it's an additional $600.
Scary drawback to unagoose looks like if the ball breaks, the chain attachment plate goes with it. BC, you're scaring me, #ad
! At least I got a quad cab, when the trailer starts crunching through, that might buy me some space. I'll make me some smokestacks out of 10" oil well casing (per MGM's suggestion !) that'll give me some added protection...
Seriously, guys, that B&W turnover ball is so slick, I can't stop thinking about it...

[This message has been edited by Briar Hopper (edited 12-29-2000). ]

 

[zman]

Hey Briar -

Check out the Cody hitch. I put one in last summer. Great hitch, simple to install, and simple to use. The guy I bought the hitch off of sells all of the ones listed above, but he said that he sells twice as many of the Cody hitch as any of the others. There are no "mechanisms" to deal with, just unlock the ball with one finger and flip the ball over. I think it is rated at 5k vertical and 35k gross trailer weight. Works great for me. Here's the link (haven't figured out how to post pictures yet):
http://www.codyhitch.com/

Steve

 

[Old Account - 243]

zman-

Right click on the image and pick properties, cut and past the path name to the image on to your post like a url.

#ad


243

 

[zman]

Thanks 243!

Here goes nothin:

Cody Hitch pics...

#ad


#ad


Nice thing about this hitch is that there is no need to drill the frame - uses existing holes. Works similar to the turnover ball, but doesn't have the lever poking through the plastic inner fender. No mechanisms to get messed up with salt and sand.

Steve

Hey, it worked!

[This message has been edited by zman (edited 12-29-2000). ]

 

[K_Arts]

Have any of you guys checked out the Air Ride Hitches?

Air Ride Hitches

They seem to be a really cool product, and again you don't have as much torque on the bed or the frame of the vehicle. Just trying to help the longevity of your truck

Just my $. 02. Guys tell me if I am outta line. I personally like how the Air Ride Hitches make for a smoother ride while towing.

Kev

 

[Jff24Gordn]

I have a Una Goose hitch in my truck. It works great, even with enough weight to overload a FL60. I agree, that if the ball comes out, it will take the chain with it. But if it breaks, ut will break above where the chain hooks in at. It looks like it would be darn near immposiable for it to come out with a trailer hooked to it. It uses a coupling like a air hose to hold it in, and the hitch is very close to the ring, and wouldnt let it come up. The cover when the ball is removed is a alumnum plug just a bit larget than the hole, and had a rubber flange on it. It sticks up high enough not to be able to slide anything over it like a crate.

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1996 2500, 4x4, 5 speed
-- email address removed -- Great Lakes TDR
PURDUE STUDENT 
GO BOILERS